Author: Katie Ganshert

Over the past three days, I wrote 25,000 words. By far the most I’ve ever written in so short a span.

I think there were three factors that allowed me to do it:

First, I needed the distraction.

I’ve been obsessing over something non-writing related in my life as of late and I needed to get out of my head. Nothing allows that like jumping into a story.

Second, I was nearing the end of my novel.

I don’t know about you, but every time I get to the end of a manuscript, it sort of writes itself. The plodding, muddy middle is a thing of the past and the end rushes out like a flood.

Last, but certainly not least, I used a voice recorder.

When it comes to producing a massive output of words, this is my secret weapon.

Why?

Because I find the blank page incredibly intimidating. It is so hard for me to sit at the computer and create something out of nothing.

Walking on the treadmill and talking into a voice recorder, however, is easy-peasy.

So that’s how I started each day.

I spoke the scenes.

The beautiful thing about this method is that it completely silences the dreaded internal editor.

There’s no back space. There’s no flashing cursor. There’s no blank page. There’s no critical little man sitting on your shoulder, reading each sentence while tutting and shaking his head.

There’s just a red record button.

Once I finished, I would sit at the computer, play my voice, and type as fast as my fingers would allow. Stopping occasionally to flesh out some details.

On Friday, I racked up 8k words. On Saturday, 7.5k, and on Sunday, I finished my seventh novel with 9.5k words.

Making a total of 25k in three days.

Which means, my seventh novel is complete and I feel giddy.

So giddy I want to tell you about it.

Remember me talking about that paranormal, supernatural, dystopian-esque young adult story idea that kick-started my creativity a few months back? The one that is nothing at all like my usual fare? Yep, this was it. I have no idea what I’ll do with it once I’m finished editing. I’m just grateful it entertained me so thoroughly during a season of waiting in my life.

Here it is, my latest distraction:

In a world where mental illness and belief in the supernatural are not tolerated, Tess Ekhart has a lot to hide. For as long as she can remember, she’s seen things nobody else can see, felt things nobody else can feel. Then the incident happens–one involving a Ouija board and a high school party. Her complete freak out and subsequent breakdown lead her family across country, next to a private facility for the mentally ill.

Tess is determined to make the most of the move. To have a fresh start. To be normal. To hide the fact that she is seeing a therapist at the Edward Brooks facility. But for Tess, fitting in has always been difficult. She’s used to whispers and stares, but when it comes to Luka Williams, a reluctantly popular boy at her new school, she’s unused to a stare that intense. And he won’t stop. Neither will her headaches or the increasingly prophetic visions that haunt her at night. As Tess tries harder and harder to hide her abnormality, she becomes more convinced than ever that Luka knows something. That Luka might even be responsible.

But what if she’s wrong? What if Luka Williams is the only thing protecting her from a darkness more terrifying than anyone could fathom?

See, I told you. Nothing at all like my usual. Which might be one of the reasons writing it was so fun!

Let’s Talk: What’s a trick you’ve learned recently? It doesn’t have to be writing-related!